Concealed nails

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to a new type of concealed nail comprising a body section having two ends with an integral flange portion extending from the body sections and positioned to stop the penetration of one of the nail ends at a desired depth. The other nail end is then left extending from the work surface a distance which is less than the thickness of a second work piece so as to eliminate holes in fished or exterior surfaces of the second work piece.

United States Patent Koide [451 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] CONCEALED NAILS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Minoru Koide, 3561 Moultrie Ave., 203,030 8/ 1923 Great Britain ..85/14 San Diego, Calif. 92117 678,937 7/1939 Germany ..85/14 [22] Filed: April 21, 1971 1,340,479 9/1963 France ..85/l4 [21] Appl. No: 135,851 Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen US. Cl ..85/14, 85/28 Attorney-Edward Dugas ABSTRACT The invention is directed to a new type of concealed nail comprising a body section having two ends with an integral flange portion extending from the body sections and positioned to stop the penetration of one of the nail ends at a desired depth. The other nail end is then left extending from the work surface a distance which is less than the thickness of a second work piece so as to eliminate holes in fished or exterior surfaces 6 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 57 [51 Int. Cl ..F16b 15/02 1 [58] Field of Search ..85/l4.28, l0

[ 5 6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 975,235 11/1910 Hansen ..8'3/28 2,230,392 2/1941 Storms ..85/l4 2,328,867 9/1943 Veteran ..85/l4 d k 2,570,626 10/1951 Abraham ..85/14 Sewn 2,874,603 2/1959 Boettcher ..85/28 PATENTED EP I912 3.693.496

SHEET 1 OF 2 CONCEALED NAILS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the building industry, an indication of high quality wood craftsmanship is the absence of nail heads. This is generally accomplished by various internal joints with the aid of glue and clamps. Another method, although poorer in appearance, is the use of nails driven externally. Generally the head is inset with a punch and the holes filled with putty. When securing wooden panels to studding or other support surfaces, it is desirable to have the panel in a substantially. flush relationship with respect to the support without marring the finished surface of the panel.

Various prior art devices have been devised to eliminate the use of the standard nail in wood. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 847,888, entitled nail, by C. A. Birdsall. In that patent there is disclosed a nail which is first driven into one work surface using a slotted tool and then the finished work piece is positioned over the extended end of the nail and driven onto the nail. Prongs which project from the nail head spread out into the finished wood piece to bind the two pieces together.

Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 116,367 entitled Double-Headed and Double-Pointed Brad, by John Sonle. The brad in that patent is an offset type with one or more prongs at either end to affect holding of material.

Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 346,148 entitled Nail, by B. P. Durham. In that patent there is provided a double-ended nail with one half of the nail being a threaded screw and the other half of the nail being angular in shape. A washer is temporarily inserted onto the threaded screw portion, abutting against the triangular nail portion, to limit the travel of the screw thread into the work piece.

It is, therefore, obvious in those applications which require the joining of wood to wood, or wood-like material in various configurations, it is extremely desirable to use concealed hardware, especially at the joints such that the outward appearance appears as if no nails were used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a double-ended nail having a body section pointed at opposite ends and having a limiting member extending from the body section.

In a second embodiment of the invention, one end of the double-ended body section has a nail head integral therewith to provide a surface for striking with a hammer and also on that same end there is a notch extending around the body section at an angle which allows the head to be broken off after insertion with the remaining broken piece forming a pointed end which end can then be driven into a work piece.

In a third embodiment of the invention, there is provided at least one additional pointed nail body extending from the limiting member parallel to the main nail body section. In addition, this embodiment can be modified by having the centrally located body section affixed with ahead and the notched break-off mark to enable the nail to be driven, using a standard hammer.

In the fourth embodiment of the invention, there is provided a double-ended nail with each end of the nail body sections positioned at an angle from each other. Extending from the junction of the two pointed body sections is a nail head which enables the nail to be driven into a work piece.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that an object of the present invention is to provide an improved concealed nail.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a concealed nail, offering superior holding properties and simplicity of construction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a nail which can be used for joining two work pieces together at angles other than These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description and drawings throughout which like characters indicate like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. la illustrates one type of double-ended nail;

FIG. lbillustrates a double-ended nail with a headpiece in place;

FIG. 2a illustrates a double-ended nail having multiple ends projecting from a central limiting member with a head piece in place;

FIGS. 2b and 20 show a top view of the nail of FIG. 2a with different central limiting member configurations;

FIG. 3a is a side view of a double-ended nail having parallel heads projecting from the limiting member but without a head piece;

FIGS. 3b and 3c are top views of the nail of FIG. 30 showing different locations of the heads projecting from the ridge;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are side and end views of a T-nail used for joining work pieces together at an angle;

FIGS. 50 to 5d illustrate the usage of the concealed T-nail shown in FIGS. 40 and 4b.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. la there is shown a double-ended concealed nail 10 comprised of a body section with two pointed ends 13 and 14 which are integral with a disc-like limiting member 11. Although the limiting member I1 is shown positioned centered between the two nail ends, the limiting member may be positioned anywhere along the length of the nail body section to adjust the depth of which the nail end penetrates the work piece serrations 12 in the nail body and holding power to the nail. This nail can be driven using a hollow tube member, which fitsover the nail body section and abuts against the limiting member 11. Hammer blows on the tube member will then drive the nail. Each of the nails to be described can be tempered for driving into concrete.

In FIG. lb the nail of FIG. la is shown modified by the addition of a head piece 15 to take the place of nail end 14. In addition, a notch 16 is formed around the body of the nail between the head 15 and the limiting member 11. The notch 16 is slanted to form a pointed end when head piece 15 is broken off. The nail is used by driving the nail into a work piece until the limiting member is recessed flush with the surface of the work piece. At that time the head 15 is broken off at the notch 16 by a side bending or twisting motion of the hammer.

Referring to FIG. 2a wherein is shown a third embodiment of the invention which contains the basic features of the nail shown in FIG. 1b. The disc-like limiting member 11 is removed and a larger limiting member 18, with a plurality of parallel pointed nail bodies 19 substituted therefor.

FIGS. 2b and 20 show by an end view some possible shapes of the limiting member 18 and possible locations of the pointed nail bodies. For this nail embodiment the nail is driven by hammer blows on head 15 until the limiting member 18 is recessed flush. The head piece 15 is then broken off and the second work piece is driven on to the pointed bodies 19.

The nail of FIG. 3a is similar to the nails of FIGS. 2a to 2c. The nail head piece 15 is not formed on this nail; instead a pointed body 20 is used. The nail is driven into a work piece by using a hollow metal tube having an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of nail body 20. The tube is struck by a hammer to drive the nail into place.

Referring now to FIGS. 40 and 4b, the nail 30 is comprised of two angled pointed nail bodies 31 and 32. A head piece extends from the junction of nail bodies 31 and 32. A notch 16 surrounds the head piece at the junction. Two wing members 39 project from nail body 31 to prevent rotation of the nail when head 15 is removed or when the work pieces are joined together.

In use, referring to FIG. 5a, the nail 30 is driven into one end of a mitered angle joint work piece 40. FIG. 5b shows the nail in place. The head piece is then broken off as shown in FIG. 50 and a second mitered angled work piece 41 is aligned with respect to work piece 40. In FIG. 5d the two work pieces are shown joined together by the nail 30 which is completely concealed in the work pieces. The nail ends 31 and 32 are shown at right angles to each other. In applications requiring angles other than 90, the nail bodies are formed with either larger or smaller angles between the bodies.

Where there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention,

it will be manifest that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, in

the annexed claims, to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A nail comprising a body portion having a pointed end and a transverse head, a limiting member extending from and integral with said body portion, dividing said body portion into first and second substantially equal and concentric body portions, an angled notch extending around said second body portion, below said head to enable said head to be broken off from said second body portion to form a second pointed end.

2. The nail according to claim 1 wherein said second body portion has serrations thereon to increase its gripping qualities.

3. The nail according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one additional pointed body portion extending from the limiting member, towards said head and substantially parallel to said second body portion.

4. A nail comprising a first body portion having a ointed end a ransve ehead; p a. a secon d ociy portit m extending from said first body portion at an angle, said second body portion having a pointed end;

. a notch extending around said first body portion, said notch commencing at the juncture of said first and said second body portion and angled toward the pointed end of said first body portion to enable said head to be broken off from said first body portion without a projection above said second body portion.

. The nail according to claim 4 wherein said angle is The nail according to claim 4 and further comprisa pair of wing members extending from said first body portion at the juncture between said first and said second body portions. 

1. A nail comprising a body portion having a pointed end and a transverse head, a limiting member extending from and integral with said body portion, dividing said body portion into first and second substantially equal and concentric body portions, an angled notch extending around said second body portion, below said head to enable said head to be broken off from said second body portion to form a second pointed end.
 2. The nail according to claim 1 wherein said second body portion has serrations thereon to increase its gripping qualities.
 3. The nail according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one additional pointed body portion extending from the limiting member, towards said head and substantially parallel to said second body portion.
 4. A nail comprising a first body portion having a pointed end and a transverse head; a. a second body portion extending from said first body portion at an angle, said second body portion having a pointed end; b. a notch extending around said first body portion, said notch commencing at the juncture of said first and said second body portion and angled toward the pointed end of said first body portion to enable said head to be broken off from said first body portion without a projection above said second body portion.
 5. The nail according to claim 4 wherein said angle is 90* .
 6. The nail according to claim 4 and further comprising; a. a pair of wing members extending from said first body portion at the juncture between said first and said second body portions. 